Eatonville Equestrian Opens Season with Dominant Showing in Elma

The Eatonville High School Equestrian team opened its season in dominant fashion last weekend, piling up top finishes and showcasing depth across nearly every event at the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds in Elma.

Competing Friday through Sunday against District 2 rivals Bethel, Ilwaco, La Center, Orting, White River, Wishka and Yelm, the Cruisers wasted little time establishing themselves as a team to watch this spring.

Eatonville claimed first-place finishes in Driving behind Natalie Foster, Saddle Seat with Ava Weaver and Working Pairs with Ava Weaver and Heidi Weaver. The Cruisers also earned top honors in Individual Flags with Ava Payne and Figure 8 with Kaydence Hill.

Kaydence Hill leans into a tight turn aboard Cola during the Figure 8 event at the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds this past weekend. The duo captured first place to help lead the Cruisers at their season-opening meet. Photo: Sierra Breeze Photography

The team’s dominance continued in Canadian Flags, where Emma Adams, Ella S., Macey Dudley and Kali Olson combined for another first-place finish. Emma Adams added an individual victory in Poles and later captured first in Keyhole. Kali Olson secured first in Daubing, while Hadley Noble and Ava Payne teamed up to take first in the 2-man birangle. Payne also topped the field in Barrels, where Eatonville went on to claim first and then third through seventh places, underscoring the team’s depth in the speed events.

Those victories highlighted an impressive list of first-place accomplishments for the Cruisers in their opening meet of the year.

Eatonville’s success was not limited to the top of the podium. The Drill Team earned a second-place finish, and Ava Weaver placed second in Dressage to round out a strong all-around performance.

In Figure 8, Macey Dudley placed second, Emma Adams finished third and Kali Olson took fourth, giving Eatonville three riders in the top four. Kaydence Hill added a second-place finish in Poles, while Macey Dudley secured second in Roping.

In Daubing, Ava Payne placed second and Dakota Murra finished third. Emma Adams and Kali Olson teamed up for second in the 2-man birangle team event, while Hadley Noble earned second in Keyhole. Weaver also captured second in Jumping to close out a busy and productive weekend.

The meet marked the first competition of the season for District 2 schools, and Eatonville’s performance across both performance and gaming events signaled a balanced and experienced roster.

With multiple riders contributing podium finishes and several events featuring more than one Cruiser near the top of the standings, Eatonville left Elma with momentum heading into its next meet, scheduled for March 13-15.

If the opening weekend was any indication, the Cruisers will once again be a strong presence in District 2 competition this season.

More photos from their meet can be found here: Sierra Breeze Photography